German school/Saksalainen koulu: Is it worth it ?

[Samer2010]

Hi Forum,

Do you know anyone who has studied or still studying in this school (http://www.dsh.fi/)?

I have only two questions:

Q1) Any reviews/opinions about the quality level of education in this school?

Q2) Will the students whom they study there (Mainly, Those whom are NOT native Germans) will really learn to speak/write perfect/super fluent German? Or, Is it that this school will teach some basic/intermediate German as the same level Finnish schools teach English?


I would really appreciate your inputs !


PS: The idea of my post is to gather opinions about this school and learn more about its quality.

So, If there is a parent who is interested in teaching German to his child, Should he consider this school or it is useless? Or, Is it better to consider other institutions e.g. Goethe...etc?

[Pursuivant]

Usually these "language schools" teach the Finnis curriculum, but in the "target language" (I think the French school has a special section for French path) - so you learn say maths and biology in the "other language" and as little kids suck it in as a sponge they get quite fluent. They usually then switch over to Finnish on the subjects closer to 8th and 9th grade if they don't have their own high school, as otherwise learning the right vocabulary would take much of the effort. So I'd say any of these language schools gives an "edge".

Other thing though is then can you help with the homework

[GermanInHelsinki]

Q1)
It is a bit more demanding than the average Finnish school.

The entrance exam ensures that only the best 6yo potential pupils get accepted into the first class.


Q2)
The school follows a German curriculum, and in classes 10-12 most subjects are taught in German only.

The high school graduation mark of your kid, calculated from the final exams and the marks in classes 11 and 12, will be based on classes and exams held in German in subjects like Math, History and Biology.

[Samer2010]

Thanks Pursuivant & GermanInHelsinki! I appreciate your inputs.

[Upphew]

Q2)
The school follows a German curriculum, and in classes 10-12 most subjects are taught in German only.

IT seems to follow its own curriculum based on Finnish and Thüringen one.

"Helsingin Saksalaisen koulun perusopetus noudattaa koulun omaa opetussuunnitelmaa. Sitä laadittaessa on otettu huomioon suomalaiset Opetushallituksen antamat perusopetuksen opetussuunnitelmien perusteet sekä saksalaiset Thüringenin osavaltion opetussuunnitelmat. Yhdeksännen luokan hyväksytysti suorittaneet saavat perusopetuksen päättötodistuksen, joka oikeuttaa hakeutumaan lukioon tai muuhun toisen asteen koulutukseen."